PERSONAL STATEMENT: Who are you, and what do you value?

If you’re applying to college/uni, you’ll most likely need to write a personal statement as part of your application.  But before diving into analyzing some great personal statement examples, it helps to get some context on what a personal statement actually is, and what writers should plan to include when writing their own personal statement.

So…
WHAT IS A PERSONAL STATEMENT?

It’s the main essay required. They basically require you to answer some version of the question “Who are you, and what do you value?” In recent years, the main Common Application essay has become more and more important in colleges’ decision-making process.

WHAT SHOULD A PERSONAL STATEMENT INCLUDE?

The personal statement should demonstrate the qualities, skills, and values that you’ve cultivated over your life and how those skills have prepared you for attending college. 

Values: Can you name at least 4-5 of the author’s core values? Do you detect a variety of values, or do the values repeat?

Vulnerability: Does the essay sound like it’s mostly analytical or like it’s coming from a deeper, more vulnerable place? Does it sound like the author wrote it using mostly his or her head (intellect) or his or her heart and gut? After reading the essay, do you know more about the author AND feel closer to him or her?

Insight: Can you identify at least 3-5 “so what” moments of insight in the essay? Are these moments kind of predictable, or are they truly illuminating?

Craft: Do the ideas in the essay connect in a way that is logical, but not too obvious (aka boring)? Can you tell that the essay represents a series of carefully considered choices and that the author spent a lot of time revising the essay over the course of several drafts?

Want a more thorough guide on how to write a personal statement?